April 23, 1951 – August 19, 2018
Betsy A. Farrell, 67, of Three Oaks, passed away Sunday, August 19, 2018 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 4:00 P.M. Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Military Rites will be conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team and the United States Air Force. Memorial donations in Betsy’s name may be made to Paws With a Cause, 4646 S Division, Wayland, MI 49348 Those wishing to sign Betsy’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Betsy was born April 23, 1951 in St. Joseph to Walter & Nellie (Koning) Thompson. She graduated from St. Joseph High School, Class of 1969 and attended Western Michigan University. Betsy enlisted in the United States Air Force where she served her country and met her future husband James Farrell. They were married June 17, 1978 in Biloxi, Mississippi. Betsy made the Air Force her career and retired as Tech Sergeant after eighteen plus years of service. Betsy settled in Three Oaks and joined her life-long friend, Patti Dynes, at Lettuce Duit Inc (awards & trophies) in Galien, which they operated together for the last twenty-four years.
Betsy was a long-time member of Lions Club where she served in many capacities and served as the District 11B-2 District Governor in 2013-2014. She was a member of Best Friends 4-H Club in St. Joseph. She enjoyed cross-stitch, knitting, crocheting, reading romance novels, jig-saw puzzles, painting murals & tending to her Koi pond. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
Betsy is survived by her husband Jim; her daughter Kathleen Farrell of Warrenton, MO; two sisters-Janice (Bill) VanAuken of Holland, MI, Nancy Thompson & her husband Mike Jay of Hartford, WI; numerous nieces & nephews; and her life-long friend Patti (David) Dynes of Galien. She was preceded in death by her parents.